1831 Norma Bellini Absolu EdP

First one from the Histoires de Parfums Opera Series...1831 Absolu Norma Bellini Modeled after the tragedic opera piece Norma by Vincenzo Bellini, this is Chanel No 5, reborn in an era that has become indifferent as the companies try to keep everyone fed with pineapple and cotton candy Progression - Opens with a vintage aura courtesy the aldehydes, which can remind people of the fragrant hair oils their mothers or grandmas used.. This sets the overture in this masterpiece... It evolves into a indolic creamy jasmine and fruity ylang ylang that sets the interlude... As the interlude wanes, benzoin, musk and vanilla creates a comforting, cozy, still a bit skanky, but uplifting base, which draws the curtain on the finale. Setting - This is a lady in black and white in a sequinned dress juxtaposed against a gaudy pink shaded world, with her hair set up in waves, she sits in a private theater gallery by herself as the opera progresses. She is visibly lost in her thought with a wistful gaze beyond the horizon of the drapes, as a melange of melancholia of what has been, engulfs her. She takes one final drag on her favourite Marlboro through a cigarette holder, stands up as the curtain falls and smiles back dryly at the theater full of people hooked onto their digital alter ego, busy in crushing candies. Wistful Melancholy #in_a_bottle..

1831 Norma Bellini Absolu EdP by Histoires de Parfums is a soapy vintage aldehyde that definitely gives you that throw-back vibe, but does not make you smell like a total granny! It does smell similar to the OG Chanel No. 5, but it does not have iris or oakmoss or quite frankly so many notes that you can’t figure out what your smelling! This stays fresh and lets the floral notes float to the surface of the fizzy, effervescent quality of the aldehydes. You are guaranteed to smell classy and refined! I love the opera inspired theme to these editions of Histories de Parfums line, but I must say that Norma Bellini in the opera play is actually a very unstable and irrational woman. It makes me laugh because this is a fantastic perfume! The opera Norma is a classic and in true dramatic Italian art form, the characters will settle for love or death but nothing in-between!

Got a sample of this and wasn't sure about it initially but I've tried it on my wrist a few times now and WOW has it grown on me! Intense aldehyde opening that reminds me powerfully of a perfume I had as a child of which I never learned the name. More powdery than what I typically go for, but the crispness of the aldehyde and warmth of the base notes give it a nice depth. Over time the musk comes out more on me and gives it a slight dirtiness but I don't mind it. Complex and engaging. I'd be hesitant to wear it out regularly but could see myself using it for a special occasion.

This, in my opinion, is the most beautifully created vintage powdery scent. As much as I'm a sucker for all things powdery and vintage, they all cause a headache and i find my nose going dry. However, this is different. I find this much more enjoyable than Lorenzo's Tent de Neige. Beautiful, airy, light, and feminine. Long lasting with decent sillage. I catch whiffs of it every time i move - (I'm an oversprayer)

delicious mix of L'Heure Bleue and N°5 EdP vintage quality Love...of course

This reminds me of certain older female family members. It is warm, soft, comforting, and elegant. A hug in a bottle.

To me this is a retro style aldehyde that got a bit of an indolic dirty feel to it in a good vintage way. I suspect that its the benzoin and labdanum that helps add a powdery muffled-sweetness quality to this scent, the rose and jasmine blends nicely together and one doesn't seem to be too overtly dominant over the other, instead they intermingle and fuse perfectly. This scent reminds me of a combination of Guerlain - Liu in the opening especially and then the animalic retro-musky sweet quality reminds me of the dry down of Bal a Versailes.